Leinster final rescheduled for this weekend

Athlone Advertiser, Thu, Dec 14, 2017

The Irish Life Health National 20k took place in Dublin last weekend. Ballinasloe Athletic Club's Veronica Burke (centre) took first place, with Kate Veale (right) following in second, and Rachel Glennon of Mullingar Harriers Athletic Club taking third in the womens senior category. Photo: Piaras O Midheach/Sportsfile

With O'Moore Park covered in a blanket of snow last Sunday, the Leinster Club SFC Final between St Loman's and Moorefield has been rescheduled for December 17 at the same venue, with a 2pm throw-in scheduled.

The inclement weather forced the postponement last weekend of this highly anticipated encounter between the Westmeath and Kildare champions. Luke Dempsey's involvement adds another layer of intrigue, having guided the respective outfits to glory during the past decade. Dempsey won two Kildare crowns with Moorefield before steering Loman's to three in a row in Westmeath.

“We won one then we lost one, and Luke came to us after winning two with Moorefield, actually,” talented Loman's attacker Shane Dempsey said in an interview with GAA.ie

“We are after winning three on the trot, so Luke is after winning five championships in a row between Moorefield and ourselves, so it makes for an interesting final. When he moved to Mullingar to teach in Rochfortbridge, he played with Shamrocks for a certain time. He obviously went away to manage numerous teams and he ended up with us. He is like one of our own now. We wouldn't trade him for anyone.”

These are excellent times for Loman's, who have claimed four of the last five Westmeath titles. DIT student Dempsey is delighted to be involved with such an accomplished outfit.

“My first year was the first year we won it in 50 years,” Dempsey stated. “It wasn't as if we had been winning them all the time. We are after winning four out of the last five so it is just a great time. There is a great bunch of lads in the club, we've got a few good results in the last few years.”

Loman's will be hoping to add more Leinster silverware, but an impressive Moorefield will offer a stern test in Portlaoise.